“It’s because the rain collects on some of the leaves until it gets heavy enough to drop. Your head just happens to be what it lands on.” He slowed to a stop and held out his hand. “Do you need me to help you?”
She frowned. “Of course not. I can walk by myself, thank you very much.” Yet when she took her next step, the mud tried to eat her boot again, and she stumbled headfirst into Felix’s chest. Thankfully, he was strong, and her weight didn’t knock him over.
Clutching onto his wet shirt, she tried to pull herself up, but that only resulted in pushing against him more. It seemed no matter how hard she tried to pry herself away the more she slipped against him.
“Miss Landon, I beg you... please contain yourself.”
“I’m trying!” She pushed her palms against his chest and gazed up into his face. “Do you honestly think I’m doing this on purpose?”
“Sometimes I wonder.”
“Oh!” She hit his arm with her fist. “You are so haughty.”
He grasped her arms, but he could not get a grip on her because she slipped down his length and fell on her knees. The mud seemed to swallow her hands quickly. She yanked them out as fast as she could and then tried to climb to her feet once again. Felix gripped her arm and Carlos secured her other as they yanked her up. Both men wore smirks, and the palm of her hand itched to slap it off their faces.
“Miss Landon?” Carlos asked, his voice light with hidden laughter. “Do you wish me to carry you?”
Although the prospect sounded wonderful, she didn’t like the glare coming from Felix. He’d warned her earlier that she wasnotto touch his men... or him. She shook her head. “I appreciate your concern, Carlos, but I’m fine. I just lost my footing for a moment.”
After a little while longer, Katrina’s limbs were heavy with exhaustion, and she was ready to ask Felix if they could take a break and rest for a moment. She didn’t think the rain would ever stop, but soon it did—ending just as quickly as it had started. Relief swept through her and she wanted to cry with happiness.
The ground was still muddy, but it seemed a little easier to walk. Whether she was used to it, or the sultry air helped to dry the ground, she wasn’t sure. Either way, she was happy about the change.
It irked her when she thought about Mr. Knightly’s reaction to when she had fallen into him. How dare he think she did it on purpose! Did he believe she was doing it just for the chance to touch him again? Why, the arrogant man probably thought she plotted ways to make physical contact with him every single minute of her day.
Felix and a couple of his men pulled out their canteens for a sip of water. She should really do that, but she felt water-logged as it was.
While squeezing water from her wet hair, she glanced into the tall trees. Everything was so beautiful and green, and at rare times like this, she realized this really was some kind of paradise.
Her mind took a different direction as a vision popped into her head. But thissightwasn’t new. The image of a man being hit with a dart popped into her head again, and yet this time, she could see more. It was Felix. He stared blankly at her mere moments before he lost consciousness. In her vision, she could hear herself screaming his name as she reached for him.
Snapping out of her forewarning, she realized she was breathing faster. The vision frightened her. Something was going to happen to Felix, but she must warn him somehow. And yet, he would wonderhowshe knew about what was going to happen in the future. And, just as most of her childhood friends did, Felix would look at her as if she’d gone insane. She couldn’t bear to have him—or anyone—look at her that way.
A movement from the closest tree drew her attention. Something long, round, and thick wiggled its way down the branch. When realization struck, fear surged through her. She shrieked and quickened her footsteps to retreat. Not looking where she was going, she plowed into Felix. Again!
The canteen he held slipped from his hand to the muddy ground and water spilled out. She didn’t care. All that passed through her mind was getting away from Satan’s own serpents. She grasped his arms as if trying to pull herself up his body.
“Miss Landon—” He tried to clutch her flaying arms that she was wrapping around his neck. “Good grief, Miss Landon.Nowwhat are you doing?”
“Snake!” she squealed, clinging to him tightly.
He swung his gaze around the area. A few of his men also looked into the trees.
When Felix spotted a snake lying on a branch, he rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Miss Landon, there is nothing to fear. That is called an emerald tree boa.” He wrapped his arms around her, holding her still. “Those snakes will not harm us if we don’t bother them.”
“But... but... it’s still asnake!”
“Yes, however not all snakes are poisonous. Some won’t harm us if we just leave them be.”
Fright still shook her body as she whimpered softly, laying her head against Mr. Knightly’s chest. She snuggled next to him a little closer, and like the other times he’d come to her rescue, she felt safe and protected. Without warning, she released a peaceful sigh.
His body stiffened and he pushed her away. Everything happened so quickly, she didn’t know what was happening. Once again, she found herself not being able to gain her ground. She stumbled backwards a couple of steps. Just as she brought her foot down, it landed on something hard. A red and black snake lifted its head and, in a flash, the serpent sank it’s fangs into her foot. When the snake pulled back, its fangs were still drawn, and its head erect in attack position.
Katrina cried out, limping in the opposite direction. “I’ve been bitten!” she cried. “That s-s-snake bit me!”
The other men fanned out, checking the bushes for more snakes. In two large steps, Felix was beside her, lifting her in his arms and carrying her away. His gaze frantically scanned the path as he went.
She couldn’t control her tears this time. An unknown worry grew heavy in her chest and ached. “Am I going to die?”
